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UK Government Announces Support for Next Phase of Europe's Aurora Planetary Exploration Programme

A Response from Dr Mike Healy
UK Director of Earth Observation, Navigation and Science
EADS Astrium

Stevenage, 01 October 2004

On hearing the announcement made by Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Innovation, and Prof. Ian Halliday, Chief Executive, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, at the The Royal College of Pathologists in London on Friday 1 October 2004, Dr Mike Healy, UK Director of Earth Observation, Navigation and Science at EADS Astrium immediately responded, saying:

"EADS Astrium welcomes the announcement made by Lord Sainsbury and Prof Halliday as an invaluable step towards the long term goals of the UK Space Industry. The decision to invest £5m in the preparatory programme recognizes the importance and significance of Aurora as one of the most exciting initiatives for many years and identifies the expertise and experience already well established in the UK.

This will help to ensure that the UK remains at the heart of European Space activity. The UK is not only investing in the future of its space capability, but also in the employment and education of its scientists and engineers."

He went on to say:

"In Aurora there are fantastic opportunities for engineers and scientists, both in the universities and industry, to build on past experience. The investment already made in Mars exploration should now be realized. We hope to see a return on this investment, in scientific discoveries and technological advances, in spacecraft and instrument design and, of course, in education.

This will send a very positive message to young people throughout the UK and encourage more to pursue careers in science and engineering. If we are able to fully participate in the implementation phase, the current generation of budding scientists and engineers should have something to aim for and an exciting programme of work over the next 30 years.

As we know from past experience, joining this type of programme early, preferably at the very beginning, gives tremendous advantages. It first of all enables the UK to be part of the decision-making process, to participate in the development phases and finally, take on realistic work packages in the design and implementation stages of the programme.

We and our partners in the Universities and the numerous small and medium companies that make up the UK space industry, can look forward to participating in all areas of the programme and to leading the choicest of development areas.

The UK has world leading capabilities in robotics and planetary science and Aurora has long been seen as an important programme to gain valuable experience and to widen and further develop this expertise."

EADS Astrium is Europe's leading satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment. EADS Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS SPACE, which is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2003 EADS SPACE had a turnover of EUR2.4 billion and 12,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003, EADS generated revenues of EUR 30.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 100,000.

Press contact:
Rémi ROLAND
EADS SPACE (FR)
Tel.: +33 (0) 1 34 88 35 78

Alistair SCOTT
EADS SPACE (UK)
Tel.: +44 (0) 1438 77 3698

Mathias PIKELJ
EADS SPACE (GER)
Tel.: +49 (0) 7545 8 91 23